Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
How do you think of yourself? When you think about who you are, what are some of the words that you would use to describe yourself? Now, who does the world say you are? I mean, in the context of your life, how do you think the world views you? Quite frankly, in the eyes of this world, I'm a nobody. I'm not famous, rich, nor powerful. I don't hold a political office nor do I ever want to. By the world's standards, I'm just an average person. I'm a person of no consequence. I've even got some hangups and problems? What about you?
If you are just an average joe like me, that's okay. You are in the perfect position for God to do great things through you! Yes, YOU are prime pickins' for God's work. You see, God doesn't think like the world. God isn't concerned with worldly wealth, power, or success. His goals are ETERNAL, SPIRITUAL, and INFINITELY greater than that of this world. He often chooses those the world overlooks - the weak, the powerless, and foolish - to do His work. And being that I fit right into that foolish category, I'm looking for Him to be using me a lot! (LOL!)
He loves to use those whom the world considers unimportant. Why? Because His GLORY is revealed through our weaknesses. Our weaknesses become His greatest assets. He may give us talents and gifts to use on His behalf, but it is when HE works through our weaknesses that His greatness shines through! In fact, God's power works best in our weakness. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, "Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Because of our weaknesses, we can tell others about what God is doing in our lives! We can and should boast of our weaknesses. In doing so, we are giving God all of the glory! In 2 Corithians 11:30 Paul writes, "If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am." Boasting about our weaknesses is counter to our culture. This world says opening up makes us vulnerable. To boast about our weaknesses might even make us look foolish. However, that is exactly what we are to do. Why? Verse 31 tells us why - to give God glory and praise. "God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying."
God also uses the weak and despised of this world to shame those who refuse to follow Him. To see this, we need only to open the pages of the Bible. Throughout the Bible, we see how God time and again used those the world considered 'nobodies' to do His work. He promised Abraham and Sarah a family so vast it would outnumber the stars in the sky - even though they were childless and in the golden years of life. He helped a shepherd boy kill a giant, later on making this shepherd the King of Israel. And when it came down to choosing the woman who was to be the earthly mother of His One and Only Son, He didn't pick a queen in a lofty palace... he picked a lowly peasant girl who bore His Son in a stable.
In His Love, Cathy
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